I have 4 neon tetra's, & 1 algae eater in a 5 gallon tank. I wanted to get a live plant but Pet store said NO

Question

I bought the tank for my daughter, and wanted to get a live plant but pet store (2 people) recomended against it so I bought a fake plant which I know will just accrue algae... I thought it would/could provide oxygen, and not sure if they could nibble @ it for nourishment or not. Would it make the fish happier, (ok I know that was a strange last question, but Im thinking about their habitat. Any thing else I should put in the tank for a neon or algae eater? Thanks for your comments.

I do have a filter and airstone that circulates oxygen/bubbles. :)

Answer 1

Plants can have some difficulty surviving in tanks without enough CO2, but there is no reason not to have one, it is a huge benefit for the fish to eat (especiall when you are on vacation), It increases the surface area for beneficial bacteri, and it out-competes the algae . You will need three inches of gravel for roots, and it may be a good idea to have a CO2 regulator
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavResults.cfm?N=2004+113779&ref=3969&subref=AA&cm_mmc=LiveAquaria_DFS_Links-_-Fish_Supplies-_-LiveAquaria_Gen_Page-_-CO2_Regulators
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Answer 2

If you have a light on the tank, there is no problem adding a live plant to your tank. If not, it would just die from lack of light. Many pet store people are just plain stupid. They are paid minimum wage and are worth every penny. Most are high school kids who don't know doodley squat about tropical fish.

If the algae eater is indeed an algae eater (Chinese or Siamese) it will not grow too large and will be fine in the tank. It will eat the same food as the neons. If it is a common pleco it will outgrow the tank in about six months. When it does, take it back and exchange it (even up) for a small one. As soon as the new one gets big, exchange it for a small one again. The pet store will love you, they sell the large ones for much more than the small ones.

You really need a heater for the neons, they are very sensitive little fish (tropical) and need temps in the range of 74-78 degrees as does the algae eater.

Water changes are very important too, be sure and do regular (weekly) partial (25-30%) changes to keep the ammonia, nitrite and nitrates down to non-toxic levels. This is a must. Do not change 100% of the water, all of the beneficial bacteria will be lost and you will have to cycle the tank in all over again (three weeks time to do properly). About every two months, stir the gravel and allow the filter to clean the floating debris from the water. You might have to stir a couple different times to get most of it out. Then clean the filter.

BTW, plants do not "put off" nitrogen, they "put off" oxygen which in a small way helps your fish. They produce the oxygen by using the nitrates in the water.

Answer 3

I don't know why they advised against a live plant. That makes no sense. But you have more important problems on your hand. The tank is way too small for that many fish. Neons are quite sensitive and unless you are an extremely experienced fish keeper then it will be difficult (if not impossible) to keep the water conditions good. The algea eater is most likely a pleco which means it will grow HUGE. Hopefully you have a filter and heater on this tank as well. I strongly recommend that you get at LEAST a 10 gallon, but a 20 would be even better. And return the pleco ( if that's what it is) and get a small school of otto catfish once the tank is cycled and you have a good growth of algea. Up the # of neons once it's cycled (if you get a 20). And you can plant it as well!!!
Here is more info on cycling: http://www.geocities.com/shtinkythefish/basic.htm

Answer 4

The only reason I could imagine they were against the live plants is from the fact that most plants or rather cuttings off the plants are flushed down the sink and end up thriving in the nations waterways as noxious exotic invaders.
Are you by any chance in a warmer part of the country? Since the fish you have are tropical and the plants you'd think went well with such fish tend to be the best adapters to the sewers, lakes and streams in warmer foreign climes. Just a hunch but if you checked with your shop staff they could give you an answer.
May your daughter find lots of joy in her new fish friends.

Answer 5

Hold up. What kind of algae eater is that?

Unless it's an otocinculus, I suggest you IMMEDIATELY return it to the store. And add two more neon tetras for the tank. Neons do better in schools of 6 or more.

The kinds of algae eaters you might have:

Chinese Algae Eater: Aggressive, stops eating algae as it ages and gets HUGE.

Siamese Algae Eater: Peaceful, marvelous algae eater, gets 6"

Plecotomus: Can become aggressive and suck on fish, needs supplmenting with protein, and gets VERY LARGE(depending on the species.)

Otocinculus: Vigilant algae eater, but must be supplemented. Stays about two inches - should be kept with 6 or more other otos.


Ideally, none of these fish are suitable for a five gallon tank. If you want something to control algae, try a small snail.

Answer 6

in all probability the main important situation I see right that is which you in easy terms have too many fish in too small of a tank. the final rule is a million gallon of water for a million inch of fish, yet that is in easy terms for slender-bodied tropical fish, some fish require extra area than that. i've got in no way saved guppies so i'm undecided what their standards are, yet tetras choose a brilliant number of area with the aid of fact they circulate around lots. In small tanks, illnesses unfold lots extra promptly and ammonia and different wastes can very unquestionably build as much as risky ranges. a bigger tank is unquestionably much less complicated to shelter, considering that is cycled and demands much less lively paintings on your section, plus the fish are happier and extra healthy with extra area. 5 gallons is the suitable length for a unmarried betta (that's unquestionably what I unquestionably have on the 2nd). in case you want to maintain the fish you have, the excellent element to do may well be to enhance your tank length to a minimum of 10 gallons, do slightly bit learn approximately a thank you to cycle your tank, and be careful what number fish you upload interior the destiny.

Answer 7

Adding a live plant to your tank will help with the oxygen level, but the additional oxygen will also kill off the algae that your algae eater needs to survive.

Answer 8

Be careful of the type of plant you get if you do. I remember when i was little my mother had a huge tank of fish, when she put a live plant in it turned out it had a growth of snail or snail eggs. I remember from then on it was hell to keep that thing clean. Once every 2-3 weeks the fish had to be moved and the tank cleaned just so it wouldnt overflow with snails.

I actually liked them, such cut little snails. XD My mother didnt though. I always felt bad for them as we vaccumed them out. :C

Answer 9

The tank is 2 small for the live plant thats why the said no.

Answer 10

They probably said no because the plant will put off nitrogen in the water, neons are sensitive to any changes. I recommend sticking with plastic. Keep in mind the books recommend 1 gallon of water to each inch of fish so you are maxed out. make sure you have plenty of filtration on your tank.